How do I fix peeling paint?
Why paint peels, how to prepare a peeling surface properly, and how to stop it happening again.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 3 hr
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Scrape back to sound material, feather the edges with sandpaper so there is no ridge, treat whatever caused it — usually damp or poor preparation — then prime the bare patch before repainting. Painting over peeling paint always fails.
Paint peels because it lost adhesion, and there is always a reason: moisture behind it, a greasy or dusty surface, painting over gloss without keying it, or incompatible paint types. Repainting without addressing the cause simply repeats the failure.
What you'll need
- Scraper
- Sandpaper (80 and 120 grit)
- Sugar soap
- Primer
- Filler
- Dust mask (optional)
Step by step
- Work out why it peeled before doing anything.Damp behind it, grease, dust, painting over gloss without sanding, or emulsion over an oil-based coat are the usual causes.
- If there is damp, fix the source and let the wall dry fully before repainting.This can take weeks. Painting a damp wall guarantees the paint fails again.
- Scrape back all loose and flaking paint until only firmly-adhered paint remains.Push the scraper under the edge of the flake. If it lifts, it was not sound.
- Feather the edges with sandpaper so the transition is smooth.This is the step that makes the repair invisible. A hard edge between old paint and bare wall shows through the topcoat.
- Wash the area with sugar soap and let it dry.Removes the grease and dust that caused the failure in the first place.
- Fill any dents or unevenness, then sand flush.Scraping often reveals surface defects the old paint was hiding.
- Prime the bare patches with an appropriate primer.Bare plaster, timber and previously glossed surfaces each want a different primer. This is not an optional step.
- Apply two thin topcoats rather than one thick one.Thick coats are more likely to fail and take far longer to cure properly.
Tips
- If paint is peeling in sheets over a large area, the surface underneath may be unsound and need stripping entirely.
- Peeling on a bathroom or kitchen ceiling is nearly always a ventilation problem, not a paint problem.
- Painting over old gloss without sanding it to a dull finish first is one of the most common causes of peeling on woodwork.
Common mistakes
- Painting over peeling paint — The new coat is only as well attached as the layer beneath it, so it lifts with it.
- Skipping the primer — Bare plaster and timber absorb topcoat unevenly and the paint adheres poorly.
- Not feathering the edges — A visible ridge at the boundary between old and new paint shows through however many coats you apply.
Questions people ask
Why does paint peel off a bathroom ceiling?
Moisture. Steam condenses on the ceiling and gets behind the paint film. Improving ventilation is the actual fix; repainting without it repeats the failure within a year.
Can I paint over old gloss?
Only after sanding it to a dull finish and priming appropriately. Paint does not adhere to a shiny surface, which is a very common cause of peeling on woodwork.